System and method for selecting and adapting carrier aggregation configurations

ABSTRACT

A method for selecting carrier aggregation (CA) configurations includes determining whether a first wireless device is operating or expected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequency band. If the first wireless device is not operating or expected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequency band, a first CA configuration is selected for a second wireless device. If the first wireless device is operating or expected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequency band, a second CA configuration that is more restrictive than the first CA configuration is selected for the second wireless device. An identifier of the selected one of the first CA configuration or the second configuration is transmitted to the second wireless device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/131,107 filed on Mar. 10, 2015, entitled “Adapting CarrierAggregation Configurations,” the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Particular embodiments relate generally to wireless communications andmore particularly to system and method for selecting and adaptingcarrier aggregation configurations under adjacent channel interference.

BACKGROUND

Using multicarrier or carrier aggregation (CA) operations, wirelessdevices in an LTE network may be able to receive and/or transmit datafrom/to more than one serving cells. FIGS. 1A-1B are schematic diagramsillustrating example carrier aggregation scenarios. Specifically, FIG.1A illustrates an example network system 100 that includes a wirelessdevice 110 that is able to receive and/or transmit data to a networknode 115 via two uplink (UL) and two downlink (DL) inter-band componentcarriers (CC). FIG. 1B illustrates an example network system 150 thatincludes wireless device 110 being able to receive and/or transmit datato network node 115 via three uplink (UL) and two downlink (DL)inter-band component carriers (CC).

In general, a CA-capable wireless device 110 can be configured tooperate with more than one serving cells. The carrier of each servingcell is generally called as a component carrier (CC). The componentcarrier (CC) means an individual carrier in a multi-carrier system. Theterm carrier aggregation (CA) is also called (e.g. interchangeablycalled) “multi-carrier system,” “multi-cell operation,” “multi-carrieroperation,” “multi-carrier” transmission and/or reception. A wirelessdevice 110 may be interchangeably called user equipment (UE).

CA is used for transmission of signaling and data in the uplink anddownlink directions. One of the CCs is the primary component carrier(PCC) or primary carrier or anchor carrier. The remaining CCs may becalled secondary component carriers (SCCs) or secondary carriers orsupplementary carriers. The serving cell may be interchangeably called aprimary cell (PCell) or primary serving cell (PSC). The secondaryserving cell may be interchangeably called a secondary cell (SCell) orsecondary serving cell (SSC).

The PCC or anchor CC can carry the essential wireless device-specificsignaling. The PCC (or PCell) exists in both uplink and downlinkdirections in CA. Where there is a single UL CC, the PCell uses that CC.The network node 115 may assign different primary carriers to differentwireless devices 110 operating in the same sector or cell.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example network 200including wireless devices deploying dual-connectivity. Similar to CA,dual connectivity also provides a way for aggregating multiple carriersfrom independent transmission nodes 115 to any wireless device 110. DualConnectivity (DC) refers to the operation where a given wireless device110 consumes radio resources provided by at least two different networkpoints. In certain embodiments, the network points may include a mainnetwork node 115A and a secondary network node (SeNB) 115B. In certainembodiments, the main network node 115A may include a main eNodeB(MeNB), and the secondary network node 115B may include a secondaryeNodeB (SeNB). The main network node 115A and the secondary network node115B are connected with non-ideal backhaul 210A while in RRC_CONNECTED.Wireless device 110A in dual connectivity maintains simultaneousconnections to main network node 115A and secondary network node 115B.Main network node 115A may be referred to as an anchor node, and thesecondary network node 115B may be referred to as a booster node.

As the name implies, the main network node 115A controls the connectionand handover of secondary network node 115B. No secondary network node115B standalone handover is defined for Rel-12. Thus, signaling by theMeNB is needed for SeNB changes. Both the anchor node and booster nodeare able terminate the control plane connection towards wireless device110A and may, thus, be the controlling nodes of wireless device 110A, incertain embodiments.

Contrary to CA, dual connectivity involves independent transmission fromdifferent network nodes 115A and 115B to any wireless device 110A. Atleast one cell 212A of both main network node 115A and secondary networknode 115B contains both UL and DL. The cell having both UL and DL may beidentified as the PCell for main network node 212A and the PSCell forsecondary network node 115B. There may be more secondary cells (SCell)attached to either main network node 115A and/or secondary network node115B.

In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, only one secondary networknode 115B is connected to wireless device 110A. However, it isrecognized that more than one secondary network node 115B may servewireless device 110A. Typically, wireless device 110A is configured withat least a PCC from main network node 115A and also a PCC from secondarynetwork node 115B. The primary serving cells on PCCs from main networknode 115A and secondary network node 115B are generally called the PCelland PSCell, respectively. Wireless device 110A may also be configuredwith one or more SCCs from main network node 115A and secondary networknode 115B. The serving cell on SCC may be called as secondary servingcell (SCell). Additionally, the PCell and PSCell typically operate orserve wireless device 110A independently. As shown in FIG. 2, dualconnectivity is a wireless device-specific feature and network node115A-B may support a dual connected wireless device 110A and a legacy UE110B at the same time.

Interference between UL and DL may occur when an frequency divisionduplex (FDD) system operates next to a time division duplex (TDD) systemin adjacent bands. FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram illustratingthe operation of a FDD system 302 next to a TDD system 304 in theadjacent bands. Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates an example scenariowherein a FDD system 302 operates in E-UTRA band 7 in 2.6 GHz adjacentto a TDD system 304 operating in E-UTRA band 38 in 2.6 GHz. The FDD andTDD systems in these bands (band 7 and band 38 respectively) may usecarriers which are next to each other. As such, if an FDD systemoperates in the same geographical area with a TDD system when the TDDand FDD carriers are close the edge of the bands, then UL-DLinterference may occur. Even perfect time synchronization of the systemsmay not avoid the UL-DL interference, in certain embodiments.

In contrast to TDD-TDD adjacent device-to-device (UE-to-UE) interferencein the same band, a band select filter may improve the receiver blockingperformance in case of TDD-FDD operated in adjacent bands, such as thescenario described below with respect to FIG. 8. Accordingly, additionalisolation due to band select filter and also assumed guard bands 306 inboth edges of the TDD band 304 may result in comparably favorablesituation for TDD/FDD in adjacent bands case as compared to TDD/TDD inthe same band case. In the example scenario of FIG. 3, guard bands 306of 10 MHz are employed between FDD system 302 and TDD system 304.

When an UL transmission interferes with a DL reception and/or a DLtransmission interferes with an UL reception, UE-to-UE interferenceand/or base station to base station (BS-to-BS) interference may occur.This occurs in addition to base station-to-device (BS-to-UE) anddevice-to-base station (UE-to-BS) adjacent channel interferences similarto FDD/FDD coexistence scenario. The UE-to-UE and BS-to-BS interferenceproblems for band 7 and band 38 in the same geographical area are shownin FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a schematicdiagram of a system 400 that may experience UE-to-UE interferencebetween TDD and FDD in 2600 MHz bands. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a schematicdiagram of a system 500 that may experience BS-to-BS interferencebetween TDD and FDD in 2600 MHz bands.

BS-to-BS interference can be handled with band specific filters, sitesolutions and guard bands. It may be a “simple” deterministic problem incertain deployment scenarios wherein carrier and/or operator specificfilters can be implemented at the BS side. However, UE-to-UEinterference is more challenging to handle with filters. Unlike aBS-to-BS interference case, special filter solutions at the wirelessdevice may be infeasible due to cost, size, etc. Additionally, when awireless device is roaming, the wireless device may need to transmit andreceive in many other bands (compared to home operator bands), which mayalso increase the filter design costs.

For at least these reasons, TDD/FDD adjacent channel interference suchas that shown for the bands shown in FIG. 1 may continue to be an issuewhere FDD and TDD systems cannot be coordinated. Stated differently, ULto DL interference remain an issue for FDD and TDD adjacent systems andis likely to be handled by band select filters since other solutionsthan coordination may be required.

Adjacent channel interference may also be an issue between two TDDsystems. In certain embodiments, two TDD systems may be operated usingTDD synchronization (i.e. time-alignment) and UL to DL coordination toavoid TDD-TDD adjacent channel interference. More specifically, thesetechniques may be employed to avoid interference between UL and DLslots. However, such techniques may require coordination betweenoperators. Specifically, when TDD configurations used in two differentcells operating in the band edges of two neighboring TDD bands are notcoordinated, then BS-to-BS interference and UE-to-UE interference mayoccur. This is similar to the TDD-FDD case described above. FIG. 6 is aschematic diagram illustrating the potential for BS-to-BS interferenceand UE-to-UE interference caused by TDD-TDD adjacent bad operations.More specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates the potential interferenceresulting from the operation of wireless device 610A and network node615A in band 42 and wireless device 610B and network node 615B in band43.

The occurrence of UE-to-UE interference may adversely impact theoperation of the transceiver of the wireless device 610A-610B. Forexample, UE-to-UE interference may result in transmitter leakage and/orreceiver blocking that may cause the wireless device 610A-610B not ableto function properly. FIG. 7 is schematic diagram illustratingtransmitter leakage of signals into the victim receiver in a system 700.FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating receiver blocking in a system800. Still another adverse impact of UE-to-UE interference may be thatone of the primary benefits of TDD (i.e. configurable UL to DLasymmetry) may be hampered.

LTE operation may soon expand to the unlicensed band. Allowingunlicensed access for LTE systems may provide certain advantages. Forexample, an LTE FDD and/or TDD carrier may be aggregated with an LTEcarrier in the unlicensed band. The unlicensed carrier may be either inFDD Supplemental Downlink (SDL) or in TDD fashion. SDL carrier is a DLonly carrier which is used only as a secondary cell (SCell) with aprimary cell (PCell). In certain embodiments, when one or more licensedLTE carriers are aggregated with one or more unlicensed LTE carriers,then the unlicensed LTE band is referred to as an LAA band. LAA may alsobe employed with Dual Connectivity, wherein aggregation is done based onDual Connectivity principles rather than Carrier Aggregation principles.Still another advantage may be that stand-alone unlicensed LTE accessmay be enabled. Specifically, two LTE carriers in unlicensed bands canbe aggregated either in CA or in DC manner.

Similar situation as described for TDD-FDD and TDD-TDD cases can alsoarise when operating in CA involving FDD/TDD frequency bands withunlicensed bands, as for unlicensed bands possibly DL only operation orTDD operation can apply in different time instances.

As mentioned briefly above, adjacent channel interference may negativelyimpact the transceiver of a wireless device. For example, adjacentchannel interference may result in transmitter-side imperfections.Specifically, transmitter emissions within the receiver band may resultdue to out-of-band (OOB) or spurious emissions. As depicted in FIG. 7,unwanted transmitter emissions falling within receiver channel cannot besuppressed by receiver channel select filters. Thus, the OOB emissionsfrom aggressor wireless devices towards the victim receivers add tototal interference levels in the baseband.

OOB emissions may be defined in two ways. First, OBB emissions may bedefined by Spectrum emission mask (SEM). Second, OBB emissions may bedefined by Adjacent channel leakage ratios (ACLR). Both SEM and ACLR areways to measure the performance of a transmitter. SEM provides themechanism for suppression of unwanted power outside the carrierbandwidth, while the ACLR measures the exact amount of power that can be‘leaked’ into adjacent channels. In LTE specifications, SEM has a muchnarrower reference bandwidth than ACLR. In LTE requirements, ACLR givesstricter performance requirement than SEM. A such, satisfying ACLRrequirements would also satisfy SEM requirements.

Adjacent channel interference may also result in receiver-sideimperfections, in certain embodiments. For example, imperfectreceiver-side filtering may result in a strong interfering signal at anadjacent channel, which can in turn cause the receiver of a victimwireless device 110 to be desensitized. Increased desensitization levelscause a receiver to become blocked, which may be referred to as receiverblocking.

As noted above, FIG. 8 illustrates the impact of strong interferingsignals at the victim receiver due to imperfect receiver filtering.Strong interference signals 802 from adjacent channel transmissionsaturates receiver front-end 804 before RX channel filtering 806. Thisphenomenon takes place after the band selective filter 808, so even aguard band (within the band) will not help mitigate the interference.

In case of TDD and FDD systems operating in different bands, the bandselect filter 808 will provide some additional isolation between TDD andFDD systems, thus the receiver blocking performance will be improved.

In certain embodiments, the wireless device may be barred to access acell or may be barred for accessing certain type of services. Forexample, a wireless device may be barred from accessing MBMS, videocalls, voice calls, or other services. To enable access barring, thecell transmits access barring information in a system information (SI)message. For example, the access barring information may be transmittedin an SIB2 message in LTE. Before selecting a cell, a wireless device inidle state reads the SI message. If the SI message includes accessbarring information, the wireless device may not reselect that cell.Similarly, a current serving cell will not handover a wireless device toa target cell where access barring is enabled if the serving cell isaware of the access barring status of the target cell. The wirelessdevice may also abort handover to a target cell where the handovercommand indicates that the target cell has enabled access barring.Specifically, the wireless device may abort handover to the target cellif the SIB2 message of the target cell includes access barringinformation.

For at least these reasons, a CA capable wireless device configured tooperate in CA band combination involving FDD and TDD frequency bandswhich are adjacent or very close to each to each other in frequencydomain may degrade or even disrupt operation of other wireless devicesoperating in these bands. A similar situation also arises if differentUL/DL TDD configurations are used in different TDD bands or carriers inthe same band, which are adjacent or close to each other (e.g. band 42and band 43), or where different LTE cells operate in unlicensed bands.A legacy single carrier operation involves both UL and DL transmissionin the serving cell of the wireless device. Therefore any legacy singlecarrier operation in these bands may seriously degrade or even disruptCA operation.

SUMMARY

Methods and systems are provided for ensuring that the CA operation inadjacent FDD and TDD bands is performed without any disruption.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a network node forselecting carrier aggregation (CA) configurations includes determiningwhether a first wireless device is operating or expected to operateusing a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a firstfrequency band. If the first wireless device is not operating orexpected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cellassociated with a first frequency band, a first CA configuration isselected for a second wireless device. Conversely, if the first wirelessdevice is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band, a secondCA configuration is selected for the second wireless device. The firstCA configuration and the second CA configuration include configurationsfor carrier operation on the first frequency band, and at least oneparameter associated with the second CA configuration is morerestrictive than at least one parameter associated with the firstconfiguration. An identifier is transmitted to the second wirelessdevice to identify the selected one of the first CA configuration or thesecond CA configuration.

According to certain embodiments, a network node includes a memorystoring computer-readable instructions for selecting carrier aggregation(CA) configurations and a processor that is operable, when executing thecomputer-readable instructions, to determine whether a first wirelessdevice is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band. If thefirst wireless device is not operating or expected to operate using asingle carrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequencyband, a first CA configuration is selected for a second wireless device.Conversely, if the first wireless device is operating or expected tooperate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with afirst frequency band, a second CA configuration is selected for thesecond wireless device. The first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration include configurations for carrier operation on the firstfrequency band, and at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is more restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith the first configuration. The at least one processor is operable toexecute the instructions to transmit an identifier to the secondwireless device to identify the selected one of the first CAconfiguration or the second CA configuration.

According to certain embodiments, a method for adapting carrieraggregation (CA) configurations by a wireless device includes obtaininginformation about a plurality of CA configurations for a CA operation.The plurality of configurations include at least a first CAconfiguration and a second CA configuration. The first CA configurationand the second CA configuration include configurations for carrieroperation on a first frequency band, and at least one parameterassociated with the second CA configuration is more restrictive than atleast one parameter associated with the first configuration. Anidentifier is received from a network node. The identifier indicates aselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration to be used by the first wireless device for performing theCA operation. The second CA configuration is selected when a secondwireless device is operating or expected to operate using a singlecarrier configuration on a cell associated with the first frequencyband. A transceiver of the first wireless device is configured forperforming the CA operation based on the identifier identifying theselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration.

According to certain embodiments, a wireless device for adapting carrieraggregation (CA) configurations is provided. The wireless deviceincludes a memory storing computer-readable instructions for selectingcarrier aggregation (CA) configurations and a processor that isoperable, when executing the computer-readable instructions, to obtaininformation about a plurality of CA configurations for a CA operation.The plurality of configurations include at least a first CAconfiguration and a second CA configuration that are configurations forcarrier operation on a first frequency band. At least one parameterassociated with the second CA configuration is more restrictive than atleast one parameter associated with the first configuration. Anidentifier is received from a network node. The identifier indicates aselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration to be used by the first wireless device for performing theCA operation. The second CA configuration is selected when a secondwireless device is operating or expected to operate using a singlecarrier configuration on a cell associated with the first frequencyband. A transceiver of the first wireless device is configured forperforming the CA operation based on the identifier identifying theselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration.

Some embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, an advantage may be that the methods andsystems ensure that a network node can successfully operate a CA-capablewireless device in any CA which involves FDD and TDD frequency bandsclose to each other in frequency. As another example, an advantage maybe that a network node can successfully operate a CA-capable wirelessdevice in any CA involving TDD bands with different UL/DL TDDconfigurations even where the TDD bands are close to each other infrequency. As still another example, an advantage may be that themethods and systems enhance user performance since CA can be effectivelyused even where CA uses FDD and TDD frequency bands or TDD bands (withdifferent UL/DL TDD configurations) that are close to each other infrequency. As another example still, an advantage may be that a networknode is able to perform legacy operations for wireless devices on suchTDD, FDD and unlicensed bands as well as CA operations for CA-capablewireless devices. As a result, overall system performance and wirelessdevice performance is enhanced.

Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of theseadvantages. Other technical advantages may be readily ascertained by oneof ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1A-1B are schematic diagram illustrating example carrieraggregation scenarios, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example network includingwireless devices deploying dual-connectivity, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example frequency divisionduplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) coexistence scenario havinga guard band of 10 MHz between FDD and TDD systems, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating example wirelessdevice-to-wireless device interference between TDD and FDD systems,according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating example networknode-to-network node interference between TDD and FDD systems, accordingto certain embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating example interference betweenTDD and TDD systems operating in adjacent bands, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating example transmitter leakagesignals, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the impact of stronginterfering signals at a victim receiver due to imperfect receiverfiltering, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example wireless network,according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example network node forselecting carrier aggregation (CA) configurations, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram of an example method for selecting CAconfigurations by a network node, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example virtual computingapparatus for selecting CA configurations, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example wireless devicefor adapting CA configurations, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 14 is process flow diagram of an example method for adapting CAconfigurations by a wireless device, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example virtual computingapparatus for adapting CA configurations, according to certainembodiments; and

FIG. 16 illustrates an example core network node or radio networkcontroller, according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to certain embodiments, a carrier aggregation (CA) capablewireless device may be configured to operate in CA band combinationinvolving frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD)frequency bands which are adjacent or very close to each to each otherin frequency domain. Examples of such bands are LTE FDD band 7 and LTETDD band 38, which are adjacent to each other. As a result, uplink (UL)and downlink (DL) operations in these bands may degrade or even disruptoperation of other wireless devices operating in these bands. A similarsituation also arise if different UL/DL TDD configurations are used indifferent TDD bands or carriers in the same band, which are adjacent orclose to each other, e.g. band 42 and band 43 TDD bands (see FIG. 6), ordifferent LTE cells operating in unlicensed bands. A legacy singlecarrier operation involves both UL and DL transmission in the servingcell of the wireless device. Therefore any legacy single carrieroperation in these bands may seriously degrade or even disrupt CAoperation involving band 7 and band 38 even if there is only DL SCellsin these bands. According to certain embodiments described herein,techniques are provided to ensure that the CA operation involvingadjacent FDD and TDD bands, such as band 7 and band 38, take placewithout any disruption.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating embodiments of a radio network900, according to certain embodiments. Network 900 includes one or morewireless devices 910A-C (which may be interchangeably referred to aswireless devices 910), network nodes 915A-C (which may beinterchangeably referred to as network nodes or eNodeBs (eNBs) 915). Awireless device 910 may communicate with a radio network node 915 over awireless interface. For example, wireless device 910 may transmitwireless signals to a radio network node 915 and/or receive wirelesssignals from radio network node 915. The wireless signals may containvoice traffic, data traffic, control signals, and/or any other suitableinformation. In some embodiments, an area of wireless signal coverageassociated with a network node 915 may be referred to as a cell. In someembodiments, wireless devices 910 may have device-to-device capability.Thus, wireless devices 910 may be able to receive signals from and/ortransmit signals directly to another wireless device 910. For example,wireless device 910A may be able to receive signals from and/or transmitsignals to wireless device 910B.

In certain embodiments, network nodes 915 may interface with a radionetwork controller (not shown). The radio network controller may controlnetwork nodes 915 and may provide certain radio resource managementfunctions, mobility management functions, and/or other suitablefunctions. The radio network controller may interface with a corenetwork node, in certain embodiments. For example, in certainembodiments, the radio network controller may interface with the corenetwork node via an interconnecting network. The interconnecting networkmay refer to any interconnecting system capable of transmitting audio,video, signals, data, messages, or any combination of the preceding. Theinterconnecting network may include all or a portion of a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), a public or private data network, alocal area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), a local, regional, or global communication or computernetwork such as the Internet, a wireline or wireless network, anenterprise intranet, or any other suitable communication link, includingcombinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the core network node may manage the establishmentof communication sessions and various other functionality for wirelessdevices 910. Wireless device 910 may exchange certain signals with thecore network node using the non-access stratum layer. In non-accessstratum signaling, signals between wireless device 910 and the corenetwork node may be transparently passed through the radio accessnetwork.

The terms wireless device 910 and network node 915, as used herein, areconsidered general terms and are intended to be considered asnon-limiting. Likewise, the term UE should not be consideringnon-limiting. For example, “network node” may correspond to any type ofradio network node or any network node, which communicates with wirelessdevice 910 and/or another network node 915. Examples of network nodes915 may include but are not limited to Node B, base station (BS),multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNode B, networkcontroller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller(BSC), relay donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station(BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU,RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g.MSC, MME etc), O&M, OSS, SON, positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC), MDT etc.Additionally, “wireless device” may be used interchangeably with userequipment (UE) and may refer to any type of wireless devicecommunicating with a network node 915 and/or with another wirelessdevice 910 in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples ofwireless devices 910 include target device, device to device (D2D) UE,machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication,PDA, iPAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embeddedequipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, or anyother suitable wireless devices.

In certain embodiments, the terms first and second may be used todistinguish one network node from another network node, one wirelessdevice from another wireless device, or one wireless device from anetwork node. Likewise, in certain embodiments, first node and secondnode may be used where first node can be a network node and a secondnetwork node can be a wireless device. The terms first and second shouldnot be construed as implying a hierarchical relation between any twocomponents. For example, first node may be network node and a secondnode may be a wireless device. The first node and second node may alsobe interchangeable called in general “eNodeB” could be considered asdevice 1 and “UE” device 2, and these two devices communicate with eachother over some radio channel. Example embodiments of wireless devices910, network nodes 915, and other network nodes (such as radio networkcontroller or core network node) are described in more detail below withrespect to FIGS. 10, 13, and 16, respectively.

Although FIG. 9 illustrates a particular arrangement of network 900, thepresent disclosure contemplates that the various embodiments describedherein may be applied to a variety of networks having any suitableconfiguration. For example, network 900 may include any suitable numberof wireless devices 910 and network nodes 915, as well as any additionalelements suitable to support communication between wireless devices orbetween a wireless device and another communication device (such as alandline telephone). Furthermore, although certain embodiments may bedescribed as implemented in a long term evolution (LTE) network, theembodiments may be implemented in any appropriate type oftelecommunication system supporting any suitable communication standardsand using any suitable components, and are applicable to any radioaccess technology (RAT) or multi-RAT systems in which the wirelessdevice receives and/or transmits signals (e.g., data). For example, thevarious embodiments described herein may be applicable to LTE,LTE-Advanced, UMTS, HSPA, GSM, cdma2000, WiMax, WiFi, another suitableradio access technology, or any suitable combination of one or moreradio access technologies. Although certain embodiments may be describedin the context of wireless transmissions in the downlink, the presentdisclosure contemplates that the various embodiments are equallyapplicable in the uplink.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example network node 915.As described above, examples of a network node 915 include an eNodeB, anode B, a base station, a wireless access point (e.g., a Wi-Fi accesspoint), a low power node, a base transceiver station (BTS), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, remote RF unit (RRU), remote radio head(RRH), etc. Network nodes 915 may be deployed throughout network 900 asa homogenous deployment, heterogeneous deployment, or mixed deployment.A homogeneous deployment may generally describe a deployment made up ofthe same (or similar) type of radio network nodes 915 and/or similarcoverage and cell sizes and inter-site distances. A heterogeneousdeployment may generally describe deployments using a variety of typesof radio network nodes 915 having different cell sizes, transmit powers,capacities, and inter-site distances. For example, a heterogeneousdeployment may include a plurality of low-power nodes placed throughouta macro-cell layout. Mixed deployments may include a mix of homogenousportions and heterogeneous portions.

Network node 915 may include one or more of transceiver 1010, processor1020, memory 1030, and network interface 1040. In some embodiments,transceiver 1010 facilitates transmitting wireless signals to andreceiving wireless signals from wireless device 910A-C (e.g., via anantenna), processor 1020 executes instructions to provide some or all ofthe functionality described above as being provided by a radio networknode 1015, memory 1030 stores the instructions executed by processor1020, and network interface 1040 communicates signals to backend networkcomponents, such as a gateway, switch, router, Internet, Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), core network nodes, radio network controllers,and other network components.

Processor 1020 may include any suitable combination of hardware andsoftware implemented in one or more modules to execute instructions andmanipulate data to perform some or all of the described functions ofradio network node 915. In some embodiments, processor 1020 may include,for example, one or more computers, one or more central processing units(CPUs), one or more microprocessors, one or more applications, and/orother logic.

Memory 1030 is generally operable to store instructions, such as acomputer program, software, an application including one or more oflogic, rules, algorithms, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructionscapable of being executed by a processor. Examples of memory 1030include computer memory (for example, Random Access Memory (RAM) or ReadOnly Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk),removable storage media (for example, a Compact Disk (CD) or a DigitalVideo Disk (DVD)), and/or or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory computer-readable and/or computer-executable memorydevices that store information.

In some embodiments, network interface 1040 is communicatively coupledto processor 1020 and may refer to any suitable device operable toreceive input for radio network node 915, send output from radio networknode 915, perform suitable processing of the input or output or both,communicate to other devices, or any combination of the preceding.Network interface 1040 may include appropriate hardware (e.g., port,modem, network interface card, etc.) and software, including protocolconversion and data processing capabilities, to communicate through anetwork.

Other embodiments of radio network node 1015 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 10 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the radio network node's functionality,including any of the functionality described above and/or any additionalfunctionality (including any functionality necessary to support thesolution described above). The various different types of radio networknodes may include components having the same physical hardware butconfigured (e.g., via programming) to support different radio accesstechnologies, or may represent partly or entirely different physicalcomponents.

In certain embodiments, at least a first network node 915A capable ofoperating cells on carrier frequencies belonging to at least twofrequency bands namely a first frequency band and a second frequencyband operate in the same geographical area. In some embodiments, thefirst and the second frequency bands may be operated by differentnetwork nodes 915. For example, the first frequency band may be operatedby a first network node 915A, and the second frequency band may beoperated by a second network node 915B. Different network nodes 915 mayor may not be co-located at the same physical location, in particularembodiments.

In some embodiments, one or more network nodes 915 may operate cells oncarrier frequencies belonging to more than two frequency bands. Forexample, a first network node 915 may operate cells on carrierfrequencies belonging to a first, a second, and a third frequency bandin the same geographical area. In a particular example, the first,second and third frequency bands may include any combination of E-UTRAFDD frequency band 20 (800 MHz range), E-UTRA FDD frequency band 7 (2.6GHz range), and E-UTRA TDD frequency band 38 (2.6 GHz range).

A first network node 915 or a plurality of network nodes operatingdifferent frequency bands may further be capable of configuring one ormore wireless devices 910 that are CA-capable by selecting a CAconfiguration for a wireless device. FIG. 11 illustrates an examplemethod 1100 for selecting CA configurations by a network node 915. Themethod begins at step 1104 when network node 915 determines emissionscharacteristics associated with a first wireless device 910A. Forexample, network node 915 may determine whether a first wireless device910A is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band.

In certain embodiments, the first frequency band may include a FDDfrequency band and a TDD band that are adjacent to one another. In otherembodiments, the first frequency band may include a first TDD frequencyband and a second TDD frequency band that are adjacent to one another.Additionally or alternatively, network node 915 may determine, at step1104, whether adjacent channel interference between radio nodes (e.g.,UE-to-UE interference, BS-to-BS interference, UE-to-BS interference,and/or BS-to-UE interference) across component carriers of the bandsinvolved in CA exceed a threshold.

The identification of whether a first wireless device 910A is operatingor expected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cellassociated with the first frequency band may be determined using anumber of different mechanisms. For example, in certain embodiments, thenetwork node 915 may receive an explicit indication from a wirelessdevice 910A on a cell operating on a band involved in the CA operation.Alternatively, network node 915 may receive any UL signal, such as SRS,random access, or another signal, from one or more wireless devices 910on a cell operating on a band involved in the CA operation. An UL signalmay be indicative of the fact that serving cell has both DL and ULcomponents.

As another example, the network node 915 may determine that there is asingle carrier operation on one or more bands involved in the CA basedon internal information, such as stored data, where, for example, thenetwork node 915 has configured one or more wireless device 910 withlegacy operation.

As still another example, the network node 915 may receive an indicationfrom another network node that there are one or more wireless devices910 with legacy operation on certain bands. Specifically, a network nodeoperating cell(s) on band 7 and/or band 38 indicate to the first networknode 915 that there are wireless devices 910 using only PCell on band 7and/or band 38. As still another example, network node 915 may make animplicit determination of legacy operation by assessing the signalquality of a wireless device 910 operating in CA. For example, networknode 915 serving a wireless device 910 configured with inter-band CA inband 20, band 7 and band 38, may determine that the DL signal qualitymeasured by the wireless device on SCell(s) on band 7 and/or on band 38is below a threshold. This may indicate that legacy wireless deviceoperation on band 7 and/or band 38 has degraded the CA-capable wirelessdevice's signal quality on these bands.

Finally, in still another example, the determination of step 1104 may bebased on system information transmitted in one or more cells on bandsinvolved in CA. For example, if access barring is not configured oractivated in serving cells on band 8 and/or band 38, network node 915configuring wireless devices 910 with CA may assume that legacy wirelessdevices may be camp on these cells. These wireless devices 910 may alsoperform UL transmissions when going into connected state and/or whendoing for example tracking area update.

If it is determined at step 1104 that the first wireless device 910A isnot operating or expected to operate using the single carrierconfiguration on the cell associated with the first frequency band,network node 915 selects a first CA configuration for a second wirelessdevice 910B. Conversely, if it is determined at step 1104 that firstwireless device 910A is operating or expected to operate using a singlecarrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequency band,network node 915 selects a second CA configuration for the secondwireless device. The first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration comprise configurations for carrier operation on the firstfrequency band.

In certain embodiments, at least one parameter associated with thesecond CA configuration is more restrictive than at least one parameterassociated with the first configuration. Thus, a more restrictive CAconfiguration may be selected when it is determined that first wirelessdevice 910A is operating or expected to operate using the single carrierconfiguration on the cell associated with the first frequency band.

In a first example, the at least one parameter may be a frequency rangesuch that the second CA configuration has a more limited allowedfrequency range than an allowed frequency range of the first CAconfiguration. In a second example, the at least one parameter may be anallowed number of physical channels for CA operation by the secondwireless device. Specifically, the allowed number of physical channelsfor the second CA configuration may be less than the allowed number ofphysical channels associated with the first CA configuration. In a thirdexample, the at least one parameter may be an allowed power range suchthat the second CA configuration has a more limited allowed power rangethan allowed power range of the first CA configuration. In a fourthexample, the at least one parameter may correspond to a maximum CAconfigurations in terms of number of CCs and/or serving cell bandwidths.For example, if network node 915 selects the first CA configuration thensecond wireless device 910B can be configured with a CA configurationwhich is not larger than the first CA configuration.

Additionally, the first and the second CA configurations may typicallybe associated with one or more specific type of CA. For example, the CAconfigurations may be defined for inter-band CA for band 20, band 7 andband 38. In yet another example, the CA configurations may be definedfor inter-band CA for band 20, band 7 and band 38 provided PCell belongto band 20 whereas SCells with only DL component are defined for band 7and band 38. As another example, the CA configurations may be definedfor inter-band CA for band 7 and band 38.

In certain embodiments, the at least first and the second CAconfigurations may be pre-defined and can be associated with a firstpre-defined and a second pre-defined identifiers respectively.Accordingly, at step 1110, the network node 915 may transmit anidentifier to second wireless device 910B that corresponds with theselected one of the first CA configuration or the second CAconfiguration that second wireless device 910B should use. Thus, ifnetwork node 915 selects first CA configuration at step 1106, networknode 915 sends an identifier associated with the first CA configurationto second wireless device 910B. Conversely, if network node 915 selectssecond CA configuration at step 1108, network node 915 sends anidentifier associated with second CA configuration to second wirelessdevice 910B.

In other embodiments, the first and the second CA configurations may notbe predefined in the second wireless device 910B. In such a scenario,the selected CA configuration may be determined by the network node 915and transmitted directly to second wireless device 910B. In still otherembodiments, the first CA configuration may be pre-defined and thesecond CA configuration may be provided directly by network node 915. Ina particular embodiment, for example, second wireless device 910B couldbe preconfigured with a first CA configuration as a defaultconfiguration. In the case where network node 915 determines that a morerestrictive CA configuration is appropriate due to wireless radioemissions, network node 915 may transmit the second CA configuration tosecond wireless device 910B when it should use the more restrictiveconfiguration.

In certain embodiments, an example CA configuration may include two ormore serving cells, such as a PCell and at least one SCell, with thesame or different channel bandwidths. In one example, CA-capablewireless device 910 may aggregate serving cells belonging to the firstand second bands using inter-band CA of Band 7 and Band 38. In general,at least the PCell is associated with both UL and DL operation alsoknown as DL PCell and UL PCell. While the SCells have at least a DLcomponent, the SCells may or may not have an UP component. In anotherexample, the CA configuration may comprise a PCell and two or moreSCells with only DL components. In a particular embodiment, for example,the CA configuration may include a PCell belonging to band 20, a firstSCell with only DL component belonging to band 7, and a second SCellwith only a DL component belonging to band 38.

In certain other embodiments, the CA configuration may enable the secondwireless device 910B to maintain simultaneous connections with thenetwork node 915A and at least one secondary network node 915B. Thus,the CA configurations may enable the second wireless device 910B tooperate with dual connectivity.

In order to ensure appropriate wireless device behavior and networkoperation for certain CA band combinations (e.g. inter-band CA in bands20, 38 and 7), two or more CA configurations associated with such bandcombination may be pre-defined by a standard. The use of these CAconfigurations may also be linked with the interference and/or legacyoperational scenarios or mode of operations, in certain embodiments. TheUE radio requirements (e.g. UE RF transmitted and RF receiverrequirements) associated with different pre-defined CA configurationsmay also be standardized. It may also be pre-defined that the CA-capablewireless device 910 may comply with these pre-defined requirementsprovided these CA configurations are used for CA operations inaccordance with the pre-defined rules or conditions e.g. use morestringent CA configuration when one or more legacy wireless deviceoperates on certain bands associated with the corresponding CA bandcombination.

Pre-defined rules may include one or more restricted or reduced orlimited CA configurations such as those described in more detail in theparticular examples below. These may include restricted channelfrequencies or frequency numbers or channel numbers for SCell of aCA-capable wireless device 910 when configured, e.g. a “restricted setof channel numbers” (aka EARFCN, ARFCN etc) to be used for configurationof SCells. Additionally or alternatively, the restricted or reduced CAconfigurations may include restricted DL power settings for transmittedsignals within a channel bandwidth of a serving cell (e.g. SCell) of theCA-capable wireless device. For example, a “frequency dependent(resource block) DL power restriction” within the transmission bandwidthconfiguration of an E-UTRA carrier may be included. The DL powerrestrictions may also be advertised in the system information of thecarrier since the power restrictions also affect wireless devices notconfigured for CA.

As another variation, it may be recognized that more than two CAconfigurations may be possible for selection by network node 915. Forexample, in certain embodiments, the network node 915 may select fromfirst, second, and third CA configurations. As described above, the atleast one parameter associated with the second CA configuration may bemore restrictive than the at least one parameter associated with thefirst CA configuration. Additionally, the at least one parameterassociated with the second CA configuration may be more or lessrestrictive than the corresponding parameter associated with the thirdCA configuration. In one particular embodiment, for example, aCA-capable wireless device 910 may be capable of aggregating servingcells belonging to inter-band CA of band 20, band 7, and band 38.

In certain embodiments, the method 1100 described herein may also beapplicable for inter-band CA involving only TDD bands if different UL/DLTDD configurations are used in different bands which are close to eachother in frequency or on different carriers within the same band. Oneexample may include inter-band CA with LTE TDD band 42 (3.4-3.6 GHz) andLTE TDD band 43 (3.6-3.8 GHz) where different TDD configurations can beused. This may also be called unsynchronized TDD operation sincecarriers within the same TDD band or across different TDD bands usedifferent UL/DL configurations.

Other actions may be taken by network node 915 in lieu of or in additionto the transmission of CA identifiers or configuration information step1110. For example, in certain embodiments, network node 915 mayreconfigure or perform cell change of one or more wireless devicesoperating with single carrier operation. Specifically, network node 915may perform a handover of a legacy wireless device on a cell belongingto the carrier or band which does not cause interference to theCA-capable wireless device 910. As another example, network node 915 mayadapt scheduling of uplink and/or downlink transmissions for theCA-capable wireless device on the adapted CA configuration. For example,network node 915 may allocate UL and/or DL resource blocks with atransmit power of at least X dB below a maximum allowed power level, ina particular embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example virtual computing apparatus 1200 forselecting and or adapting CA configurations. In certain embodiments,virtual computing apparatus 1200 may include modules for performingoperations similar to those described above with regard to the method ofFIG. 11. Thus, as depicted, virtual computing apparatus 1200 includes atleast one determining module 1202, at least one selecting module 1204,and at least one transmitting module 1206. It is recognized, however,that virtual computing apparatus 1200 may include more or fewer modulesas appropriate for selecting CA configurations.

Determining module 1202 may perform the determining functions of networknode 915, as described herein. For example, determining module 1202 maydetermine whether a first wireless device 910A is operating or expectedto operate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associatedwith a first frequency band.

Selecting module 1204 may perform the selecting functions of networknode 915, as described herein. For example, if it is determined thatfirst wireless device 910A is not operating or expected to operate usinga single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a firstfrequency band, selecting module 1204 may select a first CAconfiguration for a second wireless device 910B. Conversely, if it isdetermined that first wireless device 910A is operating or expected tooperate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with afirst frequency band, selecting module 1204 may select a second CAconfiguration for a second wireless device 910B. As described above, thefirst and second CA configurations may include configurations forcarrier operation on the first frequency band. Additionally, at leastone parameter associated with the second CA configuration may be morerestrictive than the corresponding parameter associated with the firstCA configuration. Thus, a more restrictive CA configuration may beselected when it is determined that first wireless device 910A isoperating or expected to operate using the single carrier configurationon the cell associated with the first frequency band.

Transmitting module 1206 may perform the transmitting functions ofnetwork node 915, as described herein. For example, transmitting module1206 may transmit an identifier to second wireless device 910B. Theidentifier may identify the particular one of the first and second CAconfigurations that was identified by selecting module 1204.

Other embodiments of the virtual computing apparatus may includeadditional components beyond those shown in FIG. 12 that may beresponsible for providing certain aspects of the network node'sfunctionality, including any of the functionality described above and/orany additional functionality (including any functionality necessary tosupport the solution described above).

As described herein, a wireless device 910 may be capable of adapting CAconfigurations in response to information received from network node915. FIG. 13 illustrates an example wireless device 910 for adapting CAconfigurations according to certain embodiments. As described above,examples of wireless device 910 include a mobile phone, a smart phone, aPDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a portable computer (e.g., laptop,tablet), a sensor, a modem, a machine type (MTC) device/machine tomachine (M2M) device, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mountedequipment (LME), USB dongles, a device-to-device capable device, oranother device that can provide wireless communication. A wirelessdevice 910 may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), a station(STA), a device, or a terminal in some embodiments.

As illustrated, wireless device 910 includes transceiver 1310, processor1320, and memory 1330. In some embodiments, transceiver 1310 facilitatestransmitting wireless signals to and receiving wireless signals fromnetwork node 915 (e.g., via an antenna), processor 1320 executesinstructions to provide some or all of the functionality described aboveas being provided by wireless device 1310, and memory 1330 stores theinstructions executed by processor 1320.

Processor 1320 may include any suitable combination of hardware andsoftware implemented in one or more modules to execute instructions andmanipulate data to perform some or all of the described functions ofwireless device 910. In some embodiments, processor 1320 may include,for example, one or more computers, one or more central processing units(CPUs), one or more microprocessors, one or more applications, and/orother logic.

Memory 1330 is generally operable to store instructions, such as acomputer program, software, an application including one or more oflogic, rules, algorithms, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructionscapable of being executed by a processor. Examples of memory 1530include computer memory (for example, Random Access Memory (RAM) or ReadOnly Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk),removable storage media (for example, a Compact Disk (CD) or a DigitalVideo Disk (DVD)), and/or or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory computer-readable and/or computer-executable memorydevices that store information.

Other embodiments of wireless device 910 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 13 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the wireless device's functionality,including any of the functionality described above and/or any additionalfunctionality (including any functionality necessary to support thesolution described above).

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary method 1400 performed by a firstwireless device 910A for adapting CA configurations, according tocertain embodiments. As described above, network node 915 maypreconfigure first wireless device 910A with the CA configurations.Thus, the method begins at step 1404 when the first wireless device 910Aobtains information about a plurality of CA configuration for CAoperation on a first frequency band. In certain embodiments, the CAconfigurations may be associated with identifiers. For example, firstand second CA configurations may be associated with ID #0 and ID #2,respectively. In a particular embodiment, the CA information may includefirst and second CA configurations. In other embodiments, the CAinformation may include more than two CA configurations. For example,the CA information may include first, second, and third CAconfigurations, in a particular embodiment.

At step 1406, first wireless device 910A receives an identifier fromnetwork node 915. The identifier may identify which of the plurality ofCA configurations first wireless device 910A should use for the CAoperation. For example, the identifier may identify a first CAconfiguration or a more restrictive CA configuration, such as forexample, a second CA configuration. As described above, the identifiermay be selected by the network node 915 based on whether anotherwireless device, herein referred to as second wireless device 910B isoperating or expected to operate using a single carrier configuration ona cell associated with the first frequency band. Specifically, and asdescribed in more detail above, at least one parameter associated with asecond CA configuration is more restrictive than at least one parameterassociated with a first configuration. Thus, a more restrictive CAconfiguration may be selected when it is determined that the secondwireless device 910B is operating or expected to operate using thesingle carrier configuration on the cell associated with the firstfrequency band.

For example, in a particular embodiment, the at least one parameter maybe a frequency range such that the second CA configuration has a morelimited allowed frequency range than an allowed frequency range of thefirst CA configuration. As another example, in a particular embodiment,the at least one parameter may be an allowed number of physical channelsfor CA operation by the first wireless device 910A. Specifically, theallowed number of physical channels for the second CA configuration maybe less than the allowed number of physical channels associated with thefirst CA configuration. In still another example, the at least oneparameter may be an allowed power range such that the second CAconfiguration has a more limited allowed power range than allowed powerrange of the first CA configuration.

At step 1408, first wireless device 910A configures transceiver 1302 offirst wireless device 910A for performing the CA operation based on theidentifier received from the network node 915. For example, firstwireless device 910A may adapt its radio and baseband circuitry to allowfirst wireless device 910A to receive and transmit signals on servingcells corresponding to the selected CA configuration as indicated by theidentifier. Additionally or alternatively, first wireless device 910Amay adjust or adapt one or more parameters of its radio receiver forreceiving radio signals from one or more serving cells based on theselected CA configuration. For example, if DL transmitted power isrestricted then the first wireless device may use a more robustreceiver, which is capable of receiving signals with signal qualitybelow a threshold. In a particular embodiment, if DL transmitted poweris 3 dB below a maximum transmission power, first wireless device 910Amay use a more robust receiver so that signals with SINR or SNR below athreshold are received.

In certain embodiments, an example CA configuration may include two ormore serving cells, such as a PCell and at least one SCell, with thesame or different channel bandwidths. In one example, CA-capablewireless device 910A may aggregate serving cells belonging to the firstand second bands using inter-band CA of Band 7 and Band 38. In general,at least the PCell is associated with both UL and DL operation alsoknown as DL PCell and UL PCell. While the SCells have at least a DLcomponent, the SCells may or may not have an UP component. In anotherexample, the CA configuration may comprise a PCell and two or moreSCells with only DL components. In a particular embodiment, for example,the CA configuration may include a PCell belonging to band 20, a firstSCell with only DL component belonging to band 7, and a second SCellwith only a DL component belonging to band 38.

In certain other embodiments, the CA configuration may enable firstwireless device 910A to maintain simultaneous connections with thenetwork node 915A and at least one secondary network node 915B. Thus,the CA configurations may enable the first wireless device 910A tooperate with dual connectivity.

In certain embodiments, the method 1400 described herein may also beapplicable for inter-band CA involving only TDD bands if different UL/DLTDD configurations are used in different bands which are close to eachother in frequency or on different carriers within the same band. Oneexample may include inter-band CA with LTE TDD band 42 (3.4-3.6 GHz) andLTE TDD band 43 (3.6-3.8 GHz) where different TDD configurations can beused. This may also be called unsynchronized TDD operation sincecarriers within the same TDD band or across different TDD bands usedifferent UL/DL configurations.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example virtual computing apparatus 1500 forselecting or adapting CA configurations, according to certainembodiments. In certain embodiments, virtual computing apparatus 1500may include modules for performing operations similar to those describedabove with regard to the method of FIG. 14. Thus, as depicted, virtualcomputing apparatus 1500 includes at least one obtaining module 1502, atleast one receiving module 1504, and at least one configuring module1506. It is recognized, however, that virtual computing apparatus 1400may include more or fewer modules as appropriate for adapting CAconfigurations

Obtaining module 1502 may perform the obtaining functions of wirelessdevice 910 for adapting a CA configuration, as described herein. Forexample, obtaining module 1502 may obtain information about a pluralityof CA configuration for CA operation on a first frequency band. In aparticular embodiment, the CA information may include first and secondCA configurations for carrier operation on a first frequency band, andthe second CA configuration may be more restrictive than the first CAconfiguration. In other embodiments, the CA information may include morethan two CA configurations of varying levels of restriction. Forexample, the CA information may include first, second, and third CAconfigurations in decreasing levels of restriction, in a particularembodiment.

Receiving module 1504 may perform the receiving functions of wirelessdevice 910, as described herein. For example, receiving module 1504 mayreceive an identifier from network node 915. The identifier may identifywhich of the plurality of CA configurations the wireless device 910should use for the CA operation. For example, the identifier mayidentify a first CA configuration or a more restrictive CAconfiguration, such as for example, a second CA configuration.

Configuring module 1506 may perform the configuring functions ofwireless device 910, as described herein. For example, configuringmodule 1506 may configure a transceiver 1302 for performing CAoperations based on the identifier identifying the selected one of thefirst CA configuration and the second CA configuration.

Other embodiments of the virtual computing apparatus may includeadditional components beyond those shown in FIG. 15 that may beresponsible for providing certain aspects of the wireless device'sfunctionality, including any of the functionality described above and/orany additional functionality (including any functionality necessary tosupport the solution described above).

FIG. 16 illustrates an example core network node or radio networkcontroller 1600, according to certain embodiments. Examples of networknodes can include a mobile switching center (MSC), a serving GPRSsupport node (SGSN), a mobility management entity (MME), a radio networkcontroller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), and so on. The radionetwork controller or core network node 1600 include processor 1620,memory 1630, and network interface 1640. In some embodiments, processor1620 executes instructions to provide some or all of the functionalitydescribed above as being provided by the network node, memory 1630stores the instructions executed by processor 1620, and networkinterface 1640 communicates signals to any suitable node, such as agateway, switch, router, Internet, Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN), network nodes 915, radio network controllers or core networknodes 1600, etc.

Processor 1620 may include any suitable combination of hardware andsoftware implemented in one or more modules to execute instructions andmanipulate data to perform some or all of the described functions of theradio network controller or core network node 1600. In some embodiments,processor 1620 may include, for example, one or more computers, one ormore central processing units (CPUs), one or more microprocessors, oneor more applications, and/or other logic.

Memory 1630 is generally operable to store instructions, such as acomputer program, software, an application including one or more oflogic, rules, algorithms, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructionscapable of being executed by a processor. Examples of memory 1630include computer memory (for example, Random Access Memory (RAM) or ReadOnly Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk),removable storage media (for example, a Compact Disk (CD) or a DigitalVideo Disk (DVD)), and/or or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory computer-readable and/or computer-executable memorydevices that store information.

In some embodiments, network interface 1640 is communicatively coupledto processor 1620 and may refer to any suitable device operable toreceive input for the network node, send output from the network node,perform suitable processing of the input or output or both, communicateto other devices, or any combination of the preceding. Network interface1640 may include appropriate hardware (e.g., port, modem, networkinterface card, etc.) and software, including protocol conversion anddata processing capabilities, to communicate through a network.

Other embodiments of the network node may include additional componentsbeyond those shown in FIG. 16 that may be responsible for providingcertain aspects of the network node's functionality, including any ofthe functionality described above and/or any additional functionality(including any functionality necessary to support the solution describedabove).

Some example scenarios for the adaption or selection of the CAconfiguration are provided for example purposes. In a first example, itmay be assumed that for inter-band CA for band 20, band 7 and band 38,the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2585-2605 MHz of band 38.

In this first example, the second CA configuration is more constrained,restricted and limiting in terms of maximum CCs, frequency range,maximum physical channels such as resource blocks (RBs) with respect tothe first one. Thus, network node 915 configures a CA capable wirelessdevice 910 to operate with CA using the first CA configuration if it isdetermined that no wireless device 910 is configured for performinglegacy or single carrier operation on band 7 and/or band 38. This isbecause adjacent channel interference at the wireless device 910 and/ornetwork node 915 is expected to be below a certain threshold. On theother hand, if there one or more wireless device 910 performing legacyoperation on band 7 and/or band 38, network node 915 configures aCA-capable wireless device 910 to operate with CA using the second CAconfiguration.

In a second example, it is further assumed that for inter-band CA forband 20, band 7 and band 38 the following three CA configurations aredefined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2580-2610 MHz of band 38.    -   Third CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2585-2605 MHz of band 38.

In this second example, the second CA configuration includes an allowedfrequency range for at least of the bands that is more constrained,restricted and limiting (e.g. in terms of maximum CCs, and/or maximumallowed frequency range within the passband, physical channels such asRBs etc) with respect to the first CA configuration but less restrictivewith respect to the third CA configuration. Specifically, in second CAconfiguration, the maximum frequency range for band 38 is 2575-1615 MHz(i.e., 30 MHz). Conversely, the maximum frequency range for the first CAconfiguration is 40 MHz.

In this second example, network node 915 configures a CA-capablewireless device 910 to operate with CA using the first CA configurationif it is determined that i) no wireless device 910 is configured forperforming legacy or single carrier operation on band 7 and/or band 38and ii) the number of CA-capable wireless device 910 using the same bandcombination (e.g. inter-band CA in band 20, band 7 and band 38) or theirsubset band combination (e.g. inter-band CA in band 20 and band 7, orband 20 and band 38 or band 7 and band 38) is below a threshold.However, network node 915 configures a CA-capable wireless device 910 tooperate with CA using the second CA configuration if it is determinedthat i) no wireless device 910 is configured for performing legacy orsingle carrier operation on band 7 and/or band 38 and ii) the number ofCA-capable wireless devices using the same band combination (e.g.inter-band CA in band 20, band 7 and band 38) or their subset bandcombination is above or equal to a threshold. Conversely, if there isone or more wireless devices 910 performing legacy operation on band 7and/or band 38 then the network node configures a CA-capable wirelessdevice 910 to operate with CA using the third CA configuration.

In a third example, it may be assumed that for inter-band CA for band20, band 7 and band 38, the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration involving only band 20 and band 38:        PCell in any part of band 20 and DL SCell in passband of band        38.    -   Third CA configuration involving only band 20 and band 7: PCell        in any part of band 20 and DL SCell in any DL passband of band        7.

In this third example, the second and third CA configurations are moreconstraint, restricted and limiting (e.g. in terms of maximum bands etc)than the first CA configuration. Accordingly, network node 915configures a CA-capable wireless device 910 to operate with CA using thefirst CA configuration if it is determined that no wireless device 910is configured for performing legacy or single carrier operation on band7 and/or band 38. On the other hand, if there is one or more wirelessdevice 910 performing legacy operation on band 7 and/or band 38, networknode 915 configures a CA-capable wireless device 910 to operate with CAusing either the second or the third CA configurations.

In a fourth example, it may be assumed that for inter-band CA for band20, band 7 and band 38, the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration involving only band 20 and band 38:        PCell in any part of band 20 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2585-2605 MHz of band 38.    -   Third CA configuration involving only band 20 and band 7: PCell        in any part of band 20 and DL SCell in any DL passband of band        7.

The fourth example is similar to the third example except that, in thefourth example, the second CA configuration is more restricted than itscounterpart in the third example. The example #4 has an advantage inthat the adjacent channel interference can be more effectively minimizedor reduced while sacrificing a part of spectrum in band 38.

In a fifth example, it may be assumed that for inter-band CA for band20, band 7 and band 38 the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration: No CA is allowed if there is any single        carrier operation of a wireless device in band 7 and/or band 38.        This scenario may be considered the most restrictive since no CA        is allowed if there is any single carrier operation of a        wireless device 910 in band 7 and/or band 38.

In a sixth example, it may be assumed that for inter-band CA for band20, band 7 and band 38 the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 7, DL SCell in        any DL passband of band 20 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2585-2605 MHz of band 38.    -   Third CA configuration: PCell in band 7 with UL is between        2500-(2570-Δ) MHz, DL SCell in any DL passband of band 20 and DL        SCell only within the frequency range 2570-2620 MHz of band 38.        Δ is the additional frequency separation in MHz needed for        spectral isolation of carriers between B7 UL and B38 CC.

In this sixth example, network node 915 configures a CA-capable wirelessdevice 910 to operate with CA using the either the first or the third CAconfiguration if it is determined that i) no wireless device 910 isconfigured for performing legacy or single carrier operation on band 7and/or band 38 and ii) the number of CA-capable wireless devices 910using the same band combination (e.g. inter-band CA in band 20, band 7and band 38) or their subset band combination (e.g. inter-band CA inband 20 and band 7, or band 20 and band 38 or band 7 and band 38) isbelow a threshold. On the other hand, if there are one or more wirelessdevices 910 performing legacy operations on band 7 and/or band 38,network node 915 configures a CA-capable wireless device 910 to operatewith CA using the second CA configuration.

In a seventh example, it may be assumed that for inter-band CA for band20, band 7 and band 38 the following two CA configurations are defined:

-   -   First CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38.    -   Second CA configuration: PCell in any part of band 20, DL SCell        in any DL passband of band 7 and DL SCell only within the        frequency range 2575-2615 MHz of band 38 with the DL Scell power        reduced in parts of the carrier with lower edge at 2575 MHz.

In the seventh example, the second CA configuration is more constrained,restricted and limiting (e.g. in terms of maximum CCs etc) than thefirst CA configuration. In the seventh example, network node 915configures a CA-capable wireless device 910 to operate with CA using thesecond CA configuration if it is determined that there is risk ofblocking a band 38 uplink carrier below 2570 MHz within same ordifferent network node. The DL power of the carrier with lower edge at2575 MHz is reduced in parts of the channel bandwidth of the saidcarrier so as to reduce the interferer power into the band 7 uplink. Thereduction of power is only needed for downlink frequencies of the band38 carrier across which the band 7 receiver filter has limitedattenuation. Hence the power of DL signals transmitted at the lowestfrequencies of the band 38 carrier bandwidth are reduced in power,whereas DL signals transmitted at the higher frequencies of the carrierbandwidth can be transmitted at full power (at these higher frequenciesthe band 7 receive filter has sufficient rejection). The powerrestriction applies not only to CA-capable wireless devices 910 and mayinclude all types of transmitter DL signals, e.g. for E-UTRA referencesignals (CRS/PSS/SSS/CSI-RS) and DL control channels(PDCCH/E-PDCCH/PCFICH etc). Power restriction can also mean thatdedicated data transmission (e.g. PDSCH) is not transmitted at thelowest frequencies of the band 38 carrier.

According to certain embodiments, a method by a network node forselecting carrier aggregation (CA) configurations includes determiningwhether a first wireless device is operating or expected to operateusing a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with a firstfrequency band. If the first wireless device is not operating orexpected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cellassociated with a first frequency band, a first CA configuration isselected for a second wireless device. Conversely, if the first wirelessdevice is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band, a secondCA configuration is selected for the second wireless device. The firstCA configuration and the second CA configuration include configurationsfor carrier operation on the first frequency band, and at least oneparameter associated with the second CA configuration is morerestrictive than at least one parameter associated with the firstconfiguration. An identifier is transmitted to the second wirelessdevice to identify the selected one of the first CA configuration or thesecond CA configuration.

According to certain embodiments, a network node includes a memorystoring computer-readable instructions for selecting carrier aggregation(CA) configurations and a processor that is operable, when executing thecomputer-readable instructions, to determine whether a first wirelessdevice is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band. If thefirst wireless device is not operating or expected to operate using asingle carrier configuration on a cell associated with a first frequencyband, a first CA configuration is selected for a second wireless device.Conversely, if the first wireless device is operating or expected tooperate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with afirst frequency band, a second CA configuration is selected for thesecond wireless device. The first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration include configurations for carrier operation on the firstfrequency band, and at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is more restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith the first configuration. The at least one processor is operable toexecute the instructions to transmit an identifier to the secondwireless device to identify the selected one of the first CAconfiguration or the second CA configuration.

According to certain embodiments, a method for adapting carrieraggregation (CA) configurations by a wireless device includes obtaininginformation about a plurality of CA configurations for a CA operation.The plurality of configurations include at least a first CAconfiguration and a second CA configuration. The first CA configurationand the second CA configuration include configurations for carrieroperation on a first frequency band, and at least one parameterassociated with the second CA configuration is more restrictive than atleast one parameter associated with the first configuration. Anidentifier is received from a network node. The identifier indicates aselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration to be used by the first wireless device for performing theCA operation. The second CA configuration is selected when a secondwireless device is operating or expected to operate using a singlecarrier configuration on a cell associated with the first frequencyband. A transceiver of the first wireless device is configured forperforming the CA operation based on the identifier identifying theselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration.

According to certain embodiments, a wireless device for adapting carrieraggregation (CA) configurations is provided. The wireless deviceincludes a memory storing computer-readable instructions for selectingcarrier aggregation (CA) configurations and a processor that isoperable, when executing the computer-readable instructions, to obtaininformation about a plurality of CA configurations for a CA operation.The plurality of configurations include at least a first CAconfiguration and a second CA configuration that are configurations forcarrier operation on a first frequency band. At least one parameterassociated with the second CA configuration is more restrictive than atleast one parameter associated with the first configuration. Anidentifier is received from a network node. The identifier indicates aselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration to be used by the first wireless device for performing theCA operation. The second CA configuration is selected when a secondwireless device is operating or expected to operate using a singlecarrier configuration on a cell associated with the first frequencyband. A transceiver of the first wireless device is configured forperforming the CA operation based on the identifier identifying theselected one of the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration.

Some embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, an advantage may be that the methods andsystems ensure that a network node can successfully operate a CA-capablewireless device in any CA which involves FDD and TDD frequency bandsclose to each other in frequency. As another example, an advantage maybe that a network node can successfully operate a CA-capable wirelessdevice in any CA involving TDD bands with different UL/DL TDDconfigurations even where the TDD bands are close to each other infrequency. As still another example, an advantage may be that themethods and systems enhance user performance since CA can be effectivelyused even where CA uses FDD and TDD frequency bands or TDD bands (withdifferent UL/DL TDD configurations) that are close to each other infrequency. As another example still, an advantage may be that a networknode is able to perform legacy operations for wireless devices on suchTDD, FDD and unlicensed bands as well as CA operations for CA-capablewireless devices. As a result, overall system performance and wirelessdevice performance is enhanced.

Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of theseadvantages. Other technical advantages may be readily ascertained by oneof ordinary skill in the art.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems andapparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of theinvention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may beintegrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems andapparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components.Additionally, operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performedusing any suitable logic comprising software, hardware, and/or otherlogic. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a setor each member of a subset of a set.

Other implementations may include a wireless communication device and/oraccess node configured to implement the described method, or a wirelesscommunication system in which a wireless communication device and/oraccess node implement the described method.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methodsdisclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Themethods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps maybe performed in any suitable order.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method by a network node for selectingcarrier aggregation (CA) configurations, the method comprising:determining whether a first wireless device is operating or expected tooperate using a single carrier configuration on a cell associated with afirst frequency band; if the first wireless device is not operating orexpected to operate using the single carrier configuration on the cellassociated with the first frequency band, selecting a first CAconfiguration for a second wireless device; if the first wireless deviceis operating or expected to operate using the single carrierconfiguration on the cell associated with the first frequency band,selecting a second CA configuration for the second wireless device,wherein: the first CA configuration and the second CA configurationcomprise configurations for carrier operation on the first frequencyband; at least one parameter associated with the second CA configurationis more restrictive than at least one parameter associated with thefirst configuration; and the at least one parameter comprises an allowednumber of resource blocks for CA operation such that the allowed numberof resource blocks associated with the second CA configuration is lessthan the allowed number of resource blocks associated with the first CAconfiguration, and transmitting an identifier to the second wirelessdevice, the identifier identifying the selected one of the first CAconfiguration or the second CA configuration.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein: at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is less restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith a third configuration; and the third CA configuration comprising afurther configuration for carrier operation of the second wirelessdevice on the first frequency band.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereincarrier operation on the first frequency band comprises maintainingsimultaneous connections with the network node and at least onesecondary network node.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstfrequency band comprises an FDD frequency band and a TDD frequency band,the FDD frequency band and the TDD frequency band being adjacent to oneanother.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frequency bandcomprises a first TDD frequency band and a second TDD frequency band,the first TDD frequency band and the second TDD frequency band beingadjacent to one another.
 6. A network node comprising: a memory storingcomputer-readable instructions for selecting carrier aggregation (CA)configurations; and a processor that is operable, when executing thecomputer-readable instructions, to: determine whether a first wirelessdevice is operating or expected to operate using a single carrierconfiguration on a cell associated with a first frequency band; if thefirst wireless device is not operating or expected to operate using thesingle carrier configuration on the cell associated with the firstfrequency band, select a first CA configuration for a second wirelessdevice; if the first wireless device is operating or expected to operateusing the single carrier configuration on the cell associated with thefirst frequency band, select a second CA configuration for the secondwireless device, wherein: the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration comprise configurations for carrier operation on the firstfrequency band; at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is more restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith the first configuration; and the at least one parameter comprisesan allowed number of resource blocks for CA operation such that theallowed number of resource blocks associated with the second CAconfiguration is less than the allowed number of resource blocksassociated with the first CA configuration, and transmit an identifierto the second wireless device, the identifier identifying the selectedone of the first CA configuration or the second CA configuration.
 7. Thenetwork node of claim 6, wherein: at least one parameter associated withthe second CA configuration is less restrictive than at least oneparameter associated with a third configuration; and the third CAconfiguration comprising a further configuration for carrier operationof the second wireless device on the first frequency band.
 8. Thenetwork node of claim 6, wherein carrier operation on the firstfrequency band comprises maintaining simultaneous connections with thenetwork node and at least one secondary network node.
 9. The networknode of claim 6, wherein the first frequency band comprises an FDDfrequency band and a TDD frequency band, the FDD frequency band and theTDD frequency band being adjacent to one another.
 10. The network nodeof claim 6, wherein the first frequency band comprises a first TDDfrequency band and a second TDD frequency band, the first TDD frequencyband and the second TDD frequency band being adjacent to one another.11. A method by a first wireless device for adapting carrier aggregation(CA) configurations, the method comprising: obtaining information abouta plurality of CA configurations for a CA operation, the plurality ofconfigurations comprising at least a first CA configuration and a secondCA configuration, wherein: the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration comprise configurations for carrier operation on a firstfrequency band; at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is more restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith the first configuration; and the at least one parameter comprisesan allowed number of resource blocks for CA operation such that theallowed number of resource blocks associated with the second CAconfiguration is less than the allowed number of resource blocksassociated with the first CA configuration, and receiving, from anetwork node, an identifier indicating a selected one of the first CAconfiguration and the second CA configuration to be used by the firstwireless device for performing the CA operation, the second CAconfiguration selected when a second wireless device is operating orexpected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cellassociated with the first frequency; and configuring a transceiver ofthe first wireless device for performing the CA operation based on theidentifier identifying the selected one of the first CA configurationand the second CA configuration.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein: atleast one parameter associated with the second CA configuration is lessrestrictive than at least one parameter associated with a thirdconfiguration; and the third CA configuration comprising a furtherconfiguration for carrier operation of the second wireless device on thefirst frequency band.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein carrieroperation on the first frequency band comprises maintaining simultaneousconnections with the network node and at least one secondary networknode.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first frequency bandcomprises an FDD frequency band and a TDD frequency band, the FDDfrequency band and the TDD frequency band being adjacent to one another.15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first frequency band comprises afirst TDD frequency band and a second TDD frequency band, the first TDDfrequency band and the second TDD frequency band being adjacent to oneanother.
 16. A first wireless device comprising: a memory storingcomputer-readable instructions for selecting carrier aggregation (CA)configurations; and a processor that is operable, when executing thecomputer-readable instructions, to: obtain information about a pluralityof CA configurations for a CA operation, the plurality of configurationscomprising at least a first CA configuration and a second CAconfiguration, wherein: the first CA configuration and the second CAconfiguration comprise configurations for carrier operation on a firstfrequency band; at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is more restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith the first configuration; and the at least one parameter comprisesan allowed number of resource blocks for CA operation such that theallowed number of resource blocks associated with the second CAconfiguration is less than the allowed number of resource blocksassociated with the first CA configuration, and receive, from a networknode, an identifier indicating a selected one of the first CAconfiguration and the second CA configuration to be used by the firstwireless device for performing the CA operation, the second CAconfiguration selected when a second wireless device is operating orexpected to operate using a single carrier configuration on a cellassociated with the first frequency band; and configure a transceiver ofthe first wireless device for performing the CA operation based on theidentifier identifying the selected one of the first CA configurationand the second CA configuration.
 17. The first wireless device of claim16, wherein: at least one parameter associated with the second CAconfiguration is less restrictive than at least one parameter associatedwith a third configuration; and the third CA configuration comprising afurther configuration for carrier operation of the second wirelessdevice on the first frequency band.
 18. The first wireless device ofclaim 16, wherein carrier operation on the first frequency bandcomprises maintaining simultaneous connections with the network node andat least one secondary network node.
 19. The first wireless device ofclaim 16, wherein the first frequency band comprises an FDD frequencyband and a TDD frequency band, the FDD frequency band and the TDDfrequency band being adjacent to one another.
 20. The first wirelessdevice of claim 16, wherein the first frequency band comprises a firstTDD frequency band and a second TDD frequency band, the first TDDfrequency band and the second TDD frequency band being adjacent to oneanother.